Local Government Reform on Track, Says Interior Minister
In a recent address to Limassol’s interim coordination committee, Interior Minister Constantinos Ioannou expressed confidence in the ongoing local government reform in Cyprus. Despite initial teething problems during the transition, Ioannou assured that most issues would be ironed out by the end of June.
“There will certainly be difficulties in the beginning, but this is a matter of adaptation,” Ioannou stated, drawing parallels to the early challenges faced during the launch of Gesy. He emphasized that the current hurdles are part of a cultural shift as different organizations are being unified under one roof. The minister reassured that the government is actively working to resolve these issues.
Significant progress has been made in terms of staffing and securing premises for authorities and institutions. Ioannou highlighted that the licencing offices of the urban planning department, municipalities, and district administrations are set to converge in a single building within each district by July 1.
“These are three different cultures which will bring with them all the pending applications, so there will probably be an adjustment period at the beginning. I don’t consider them problems, I consider it a period of adjustment,” he explained.
To support the transition, additional personnel from the ministry are being deployed to assist local government authorities. These staff members will be on secondment for 18 months, after which they can choose to stay with local authorities or return to the interior ministry.
Addressing concerns over voter registration irregularities, Ioannou confirmed that investigations are underway. With over 3,500 objections filed concerning voter registrations for the upcoming June elections, the government is contemplating advancing the voter registration deadline for future elections to better manage such objections.
Reports have surfaced of individuals registering to vote at unconventional addresses, including warehouses and other commercial properties, a significant increase from previous years. Ioannou assured that any objectionable findings would lead to police complaints.
The minister’s remarks convey a sense of steady progress and commitment to overcoming the initial challenges of local government reform, with a clear goal of ensuring readiness and smooth operation by the stipulated deadlines.
